Construction World December 2017

REDDAM HOUSE HELDERFONTEIN – EARLY LEARNING CENTRE Demolishing a potentially hazardous asbestos cement structure, preserving historic buildings, and the meticulous reconstruction of an old concrete dome were some of the challenges Pretoria building contractors, J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects, successfully coped with in a R55-million contract for the construction of the Reddam House Early Learning Centre in Helderfontein Estate.

Heritage regulations regarding two small historic structures on the site which had to be preserved and not damaged during the building operations. “The developers had to obtain approval from the National Heritage authorities before we could go on site which caused a delay of a few months,” Luther said. Phase Two of the project entailed the construction of: • A two-level administration building with basement. The 3 000 m 2 structure includes various school facilities, including a music room; • A dining hall of 600 m 2 ; and • Four accommodation structures – three double-storey and one single-storey, comprising three hostels and caretaker premises, each covering 200 m 2 . Pieter Venter said: “We also had to partially demolish an existing admin building which had an interesting old dome structure on top of the roof which could not be retained as it was regarded as unsafe. This has called for the meticulous rebuilding of the 6 m by 6 m dome to its original specifications,” Venter explained. The need for a totally soundproof admin building called for the extensive installation of dry wall partitioning, he added.

Reddam House is part of the Inspired Group of co-educational and non-denominational international schools. Its new Early Learning Centre – the latest of the Reddam House facilities in Gauteng – is situated in the picturesque Helderfontein Estate valley, surrounded by the suburbs of Dainfern, Fourways, Lonehill and Broadacres. The developer of the new facility is Century Property Developments, for which J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects has worked before on projects such as the clubhouse for The Hills Game Reserve and Lifestyle Estate in Pretoria. Pieter Venter, contracts director at J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects, says the first phase of Reddam House Helderfontein involved the fast-track construction of a 4 500 m 2 single-storey structure which the contractors had to complete in about 18 weeks to have this part of the school ready for parents and pupils’ Open Day in early November last year. “The stringent time frame meant that we had to be on site seven days a week from the beginning of July: we laid about 700 000 stock bricks and 200 000 face bricks in a hectic five-week period of the

construction project. We had to employ every time-saving measure possible, including the use of raft foundations which are faster to construct because they do not require deep excavations compared to strip or pad foundations,” Venter explained. André Luther, contracts manager for J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects, says the first phase of the Reddam House project included the construction of the new school itself, with a gatehouse and 157 m long and 3 m high boundary wall. “We had to demolish an existing asbestos cement structure on the site where the gatehouse was built. As there are strict environmental laws regarding asbestos fibre, we had to enlist the help of specialist waste management company, EnviroServe, for this part of the contract. Building contractors have the responsibility of properly identifying and, where necessary, remove asbestos before demolition or refurbishment so the risks of disturbing asbestos and releasing airborne fibres are eliminated,” Luther stated. For the second phase of the Reddam House project, J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects had to comply with South African

PROJECT INFORMATION

• Company entering: J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects • Client: Century Property Developments • Main contractor: J.C. van der Linde & Venter Projects • Principal agent: Century Property Developments • Consulting engineer: A.D.A. Consulting Engineers • Architect: Century Property Developments • Electrical engineer: Watson Mattheus Consulting Electrical Engineers • Quantity surveyor: Bain & Heyns

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